Texas and the DOJ head to court — over razor-wired floats

Plus, Israel's divisive judicial overhaul. 📣 Sentences is changing. Help shape its next iteration. [Take our survey.]( Texas governor rejects DOJ request to remove floating barrier at southern border; Israel jams through unpopular judicial reforms. Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin.   TOP NEWS DOJ is beefing with Texas over floating anti-migrant barrier Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images - On Monday, Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott refused to comply with the Justice Department’s order to remove a floating barrier installed in the Rio Grande to prevent migrants from entering the US. [[CNN / Priscilla Alvarez and Hannah Rabinowitz](] - Abbott’s refusal is the latest salvo in the battle between Texas and the federal government over the state’s increasingly tough policies at the southern border. [[Guardian / Martin Pengelly](] - The showdown comes after a state trooper said the barrier, made of massive buoys and razor wire, put migrants in danger of being cut or drowning and said he received orders to push migrants back into the river. [[CBS News / Camilo Montoya-Galvez](] - The DOJ threatened to sue Texas for deploying 1,000 feet of the barrier in the river, violating rules against blocking federal waterways. [[The Hill / Sarah Fortinsky](] - Abbott accused the Biden administration of encouraging dangerous river crossings. The White House says immigration has declined since it implemented new policies in May. [[Associated Press / Valerie Gonzalez and Acacia Coronado](]  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( A fragile moment for Israel’s democracy - Israel's Knesset on Monday passed the first set of controversial judicial reforms limiting the Supreme Court’s power to review government decisions. [[Vox / Ellen Ioanes]]( - Thousands have taken to Israel’s streets to protest the reforms, which critics say will weaken Israel’s democracy and prevent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from facing corruption charges. [[AP / Josef Federman](] - Netanyahu’s far-right government claims the measure, which passed 64-0 after the entire opposition left the chamber, is needed to rein in judicial power. [[BBC / Raffi Berg](] - Israel’s main labor union and reserve military forces threatened to strike over the reforms, which would further imperil the economy and weaken its defense. [[CNN / Hadas Gold, Richard Allen Greene, and Amir Tal](] 📍 If you read just one story Vox’s Zack Beauchamp explains what Israel’s judicial overhaul could mean for the future of its democracy. [[Vox / Zack Beauchamp](]   Support our work Reader gifts help keep Vox and newsletters like Sentences free for all. Support our work with a gift today. [Give](   MISCELLANEOUS Twitter owner Elon Musk replaced its bird logo with an “X” as part of his plans to make the social media platform a “super app” offering several services. [[Vox / Sara Morrison](] - On Saturday, a woman was found dead in Montana after she encountered a grizzly bear on a trail near Yellowstone National Park, according to park officials. [[BBC / Graeme Baker](] - President Biden will establish a national monument to honor Emmett Till — a Black teenager lynched in 1955 — and his mother Mamie Till-Mobley, who helped usher in the civil rights movement. [[NPR / Juliana Kim](] - On July 4, Ohio police unleashed a canine to attack a Black man kneeling with his hands up during a traffic stop. [[Reuters](] VERBATIM “Texas will see you in court, Mr. President.” [[Gov. Abbott defying DOJ orders to remove the floating barrier / CNN](]   I want you! (to fight the culture war) The defense bill is the latest piece of legislation to be weaponized by the far-right Freedom Caucus. It’s also the latest test for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. [Listen now ▶](   Read more from Vox //link.vox.com/click/32178261.32346/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudm94LmNvbS9jdWx0dXJlLzIwMjMvNy8xMS8yMzc5MTM3Ni9rZWtlLXBhbG1lci1kYXJpdXMtamFja3Nvbi10cmFjZWUtZWxsaXMtcm9zcy1zYXJhaC1icmFkeS1qb25haC1oaWxs/60917b13ac7e007ef63b32a8B2477ba9f[Welcome to X, the wannabe “super app” formerly known as Twitter]( [Vox, the far-right party making gains in Spain, explained]( [What does it mean to be “just Ken”?]( [Inside the Republican effort to force millions of farm animals back into cages]( [Why Europe is so angry about Biden’s signature climate bill](  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...](   [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [YouTube]( This email was sent to {EMAIL}. Manage your [email preferences]( or [unsubscribe](param=sentences). If you value Vox’s unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring [contribution](. View our [Privacy Notice]( and our [Terms of Service](. Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036. Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved.